Underwater leakage oil collector system

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for collecting oil at its source of leakage from a container underwater which includes an elongated, flexible and impervious conduit having an inverted channel-shaped mouth composed of cushioned sealing material and flexible magnet means for mating engagement with the surface of the oil container surrounding the sides and upper portion of the source of leakage for entrapping the oil and elevated conveying means at the opposed end of the conduit for directing the entrapped oil to a collector. The bottom portion of the mouth remains open to permit entry of water into the conduit to float the entrapped oil and accelerate its passage upwardly through the conduit.

llnited States Patent .11 1

Rainey [451 Sept. 4, 1973 UNDERWATER LEAKAGE OIL COLLECTOR SYSTEM 22 Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 286,356

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 124,827, March 16, 1971,

3,548,605 12/1970 Pauw et al 6l/l F 3,610,194 10/1971 Siegel 61/1 F 1,880,999 10/1932 Sussman 114/164 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, .lr. Attorney-Norman H. Stepno et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for collecting oil at its source of leakage from a container underwater which includes an elongated, flexible and impervious conduit having an inverted channel-shaped mouth composed of cushioned sealing material and flexible magnet means for mating engagement with the surface of the oil container surrounding the sides and upper portion of the source of leakage for entrapping the oil and elevated conveying means at the opposed end of the conduit for directing the entrapped oil to a collector. The bottom portion. of the mouth remains open to permit entry of water into the conduit to float the entrapped oil and accelerate its passage upwardly through the conduit.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBsEP 4 ms SEA WATER FIG. 2.

INVENTOR DON E. RAIN EY UNDERWATER LEAKAGE OIL COLLECTOR SYSTEM This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 124,827 filed 3/16/71, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for collecting leakage oil and is concerned more particularly with apparatus for preventing the spread of oil or like material leaking from a source of leakage defined by an underwater break in a container by entrapping such material at its source of leakage and conveying it to a storage collector.

The recovery of leakage oil presents many problems which the prior art has failed adequately to overcome and it is the general objective of the present invention to avoid such deficiencies by providing a greatly improved collecting system.

A more particular purpose and objective of the invention is to provide a conduit extending from the source of leakage to a collector receptacle featuring an inverted channel-shaped mouth for the conduit having a flexible magnet means conforming to the curvature of the wall of the container at the sides and upper portion of the rupture or source of leakage; the mouth of the conduit also having an open bottom portion to permit the entry of water to float the entrapped oil and accelerate its passage upwardly through the conduit.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, operatively attached around the source of oil leakage from a container such as a tanker ship indicated in fragment; 1

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the numeral indicates in. its entirety a preferred form of the underwater leakage oil collector apparatus of the present invention.

As shown, a flexible, elongated conduit 12 of impervious material, plasticsheet for example, is adapted to extend between a source of underwater oil leakage and an upper storage collector. The source of oil leakage, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is a rupture or the like 14 in the sidewall 16 of a marine tanker, such as mightresult from a collision, but it is to be understood that the source of leakage might be in a pipeline or any other kind of oil container.

The entrance mouth 18 of the conduit 12 isof inverted channel or U-shaped configuration and is adapted to be secured in mating engagement with the upper and side wall portions of the container bordering the rupture or other area of leakage. To this end, flexible magnet means 20 of inverted channel of U-shaped and a flexible cushioning layer 22 of similar configuration are provided at the mouth 18 of the conduit 12.

, 6 The magnet means 20 may be formed from a plurality of individual magnets fastened together by a nonmetallic cable 21, nylon for example, as a chain or ribbon as shown, or may be formed from a bendable strip of metal or in any other manner to provide flexibility for conforming to the wall curvature of the container. The cushioning layer which may be of sponge rubber or any other suitable material provides sealing contact with the container wall.

A convenient manner of assembling the magnet and cushioning means 20 and 22 to form the inverted U- shaped mouth 18 provides for an extended length 13 of the conduit 12 for folding over the members 20 and 22 as an envelope with its free end portion reversely extended and in sealing engagement with the adjacent area of the conduit proper.

Hogging lines or the like 24 may be secured to the mouth portion 18 or the conduit and manipulated remotely further to secure and to shift the conduit mouth in the area of oil leakage.

The discharge opposite end portion 26 of the conduit l2passes the fluid contents by way of a conveying pipe or hose; and to a storage collector such as the bladder 28 as shown or to another barge or tanker or any other suitable storage collector. Preferably, multi-valve means 30 are provided at the discharge end of the conduit alternately to direct fluid flow to selected storage containers. A discharge pump may also be provided but ordinarily is not necessary because of the tendency of the oil to rise in the water medium.

In operation of the apparatus herein illustrated and described after it has been brought to the scene of oil leakage, the conduit mouth 18 is positioned such as by a diver around the source of leakage with the cushioned magnetic upper and side wall portions of the mouth in engagement with the opposed wall surfaces of the leaking container. Manipulation of the hogging lines 24 assists in maintaining a mating sealing engagement for entrance of leakage oil into the conduit 12. The open bottom of the mouth 18 permits entry of water into the conduit to float the entrapped oil and accelerate its passage upwardly through the conduit. Any particular manner of collecting the oil and water at the discharge end of the conduit will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular structures and arrangement of parts as herein illustrated and described but embraces all such. modifications thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for collecting underwater leakage oil from a source of leakage defined by an underwater break in a container which comprises:

a flexible, elongated, impervious conduit having an inverted channel-shaped open mouth,

flexible magnet means supported by said conduit and bordering said mouth, the said magnet means being adapted for mating engagement with the surface of the container surrounding the sides and upper portion of the source of leakage for entrapping the oil and the water entering the conduit below its mouth,

the opposed end of said conduit being elevated above the mouth of the conduit, and

conveying means at said opposed conduit end for directing the entrapped oil and water to a collector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including cushioning means disposed forwardly of the magnet means for sealing engagement of the conduit with the container.

length of the conduit at its mouth encircles the magnet means to secure the magnet means to the conduit.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an extended length of the conduit at its mouth encircles the cushioning and magnet means to secure said means to the conduit.

it! l t t l 

1. Apparatus for collecting underwater leakage oil from a source of leakage defined by an underwater break in a container which comprises: a flexible, elongated, impervious conduit having an inverted channel-shaped open mouth, flexible magnet means supported by said conduit and bordering said mouth, the said magnet means being adapted for mating engagement with the surface of the container surrounding the sides and upper portion of the source of leakage for entrapping the oil and the water entering the conduit below its mouth, the opposed end of said conduit being elevated above the mouth of the conduit, and conveying means at said opposed conduit end for directing the entrapped oil and water to a collector.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including cushioning means disposed forwardly of the magnet means for sealing engagement of the conduit with the container.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including means operable from above the surface of the water for adjusting the positioning of the conduit mouth.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 additionally including means operable from above the surface of the water for adjusting the positioning of the cOnduit mouth.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an extended length of the conduit at its mouth encircles the magnet means to secure the magnet means to the conduit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an extended length of the conduit at its mouth encircles the cushioning and magnet means to secure said means to the conduit. 